Is carbamazepine prone to causing weight gain?

[mikl_pls]

About two weeks ago, I started carbamazepine (Tegretol) 200 mg at bedtime. The first week I actually seemed to lose weight (about 2.6 lb the first week), but suddenly this week I have gained 10.1 lb out of nowhere. No changes to my diet or lifestyle or anything like that. I've actually been making an effort to get out and do more physical activity lately, which I think I can attribute to the carbamazepine's positive effects on my depressive mood. I think I like what carbamazepine is doing for me (it's hard to tell so early in taking it though), but if it's prone to causing weight gain, it's probably going to be a no-go for me, because I already have enough weight problems now as it is.

What were your experiences with carbamazepine? Weight neutral? Weight gain? Weight loss?

I was thinking about asking for Equetro next appointment, the extended release version that's marketed specifically for bipolar—does anyone have experience with this product? Does anyone think that it might reduce any possible weight gain? On the Equetro website, they mentioned something about "two 3-week pivotal triels" in which the mean change in weight for Equetro was +2.3 lb vs. placebo was 0.1 lb (and they went on to say that "low percentage of patients with clinically significant weight gain [Equetro 5.3%, placebo 0.95%]).

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[melissaw72]

I'm sorry about the weight gain ... that would frustrate me beyond belief. 

I was on tegretol a very long time ago, and didn't have any issues with weight.  It was weight neutral for me, and got rid of a lot of headaches I had.

The only problem I had was that I developed osteoporosis, and after the bone density scan that diagnosed me I was told by endo (back then) that I had the bones of an 80-year-old.  This was when I was in my 20s.  So I stopped tegretol, and fortunately since then I am back up to osteopenia  (last bone density earlier this year showed that I was still getting better).

Other than that I had no problems with it that stuck out, enough to notice.

 

[jt07]

I take carbamazepine as you know by now, and it has never given me a problem with weight gain. In fact, I've lost weight several times while on it. Other meds that I take can be weight gainers (mirtazapine, Abilify), but not carbamazepine. What I'm trying to say is that carbamazepine is completely weight neutral for me. That is in complete opposition to Depakote which was the worst weight gainer I've ever taken.

[mikl_pls]

4 hours ago, melissaw72 said:

I'm sorry about the weight gain ... that would frustrate me beyond belief. 

 

Indeed... lol. I have a feeling Vraylar has a hand in causing the weight gain if not the carbamazepine... I looked back and I've gained almost 25 lb since being on it over the past few months. My pdoc keeps insisting the Vraylar is metabolically neutral, but I'm beginning to suspect otherwise...

5 hours ago, melissaw72 said:

I was on tegretol a very long time ago, and didn't have any issues with weight.  It was weight neutral for me, and got rid of a lot of headaches I had.

3

I figured it would be a weight neutral med for most others.

3

4 hours ago, melissaw72 said:

The only problem I had was that I developed osteoporosis, and after the bone density scan that diagnosed me I was told by endo (back then) that I had the bones of an 80-year-old.  This was when I was in my 20s.  So I stopped tegretol, and fortunately since then I am back up to osteopenia  (last bone density earlier this year showed that I was still getting better).

Other than that I had no problems with it that stuck out, enough to notice.

2

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that happened! I'm glad you're getting better!  

 

1 hour ago, jt07 said:

I take carbamazepine as you know by now, and it has never given me a problem with weight gain. In fact, I've lost weight several times while on it. Other meds that I take can be weight gainers (mirtazapine, Abilify), but not carbamazepine. What I'm trying to say is that carbamazepine is completely weight neutral for me. That is in complete opposition to Depakote which was the worst weight gainer I've ever taken.

 

Interesting about the weight loss. This further confirms my suspicion about the Vraylar contributing to the weight gain instead... You mentioned Abilify being a weight gainer—oddly enough that is a "weight loser" for me lol. It actually makes me lose weight. I lost 40 lb on it last summer while on a ketogenic diet. I'd be on it instead of Vraylar in a heartbeat if I suspected that the Vraylar was causing the weight gain, but the only problem is for some reason Abilify now makes me the biggest asshole in the world; it didn't have that effect on me before at all. Strange. Oh god I don't ever want to end up on Depakote... lol.

 

Thanks to both of you for your input! I appreciate it very much!

[melissaw72]

39 minutes ago, mikrw33 said:

My pdoc keeps insisting the Vraylar is metabolically neutral, but I'm beginning to suspect otherwise...

FWIW ... Who is your DR to say a blanket statement like this?  She actually thinks every single person on Vraylar is affected the same way?

 

[rowan77]

I was on carbamazepine several years ago and it was weight neutral for me

[mikl_pls]

7 hours ago, melissaw72 said:

FWIW ... Who is your DR to say a blanket statement like this?  She actually thinks every single person on Vraylar is affected the same way?

 

 

I think she's speaking from a pharmacological standpoint, and probably should be saying it "should" be weight neutral... but I dunno. I wouldn't be willing to go so far as to say that she actually thinks everyone is affected by Vraylar the same way. Regardless, I still <3 my pdoc and have a great amount of respect for her. She has done wonderful things for me and my parents (who also see her too) that I don't think any pdoc in this whole part of the freaking country would do.

[melissaw72]

2 hours ago, mikrw33 said:

I think she's speaking from a pharmacological standpoint, and probably should be saying it "should" be weight neutral... but I dunno. I wouldn't be willing to go so far as to say that she actually thinks everyone is affected by Vraylar the same way. Regardless, I still <3 my pdoc and have a great amount of respect for her. She has done wonderful things for me and my parents (who also see her too) that I don't think any pdoc in this whole part of the freaking country would do.

I wasn't cutting down your pdoc, was just surprised that someone in the medical field would make such a statement.  I'm glad you and your pdoc can work together and that you respect her.  I am glad you and your family benefit from seeing pdoc, and that she would go out of her way to to do things (that might not be the way to word what I am trying to say, but it means something close to that).

I hope the tegretol works for you!

[mikl_pls]

On 10/29/2016 at 3:32 AM, melissaw72 said:

I wasn't cutting down your pdoc, was just surprised that someone in the medical field would make such a statement.  I'm glad you and your pdoc can work together and that you respect her.  I am glad you and your family benefit from seeing pdoc, and that she would go out of her way to to do things (that might not be the way to word what I am trying to say, but it means something close to that).

I hope the tegretol works for you!

 

I gotcha.  

Thanks!